First off, thank you so much for the interview, Cody! I write in all kinds of different genres (action/hero, inspirational, young adult, police/crime, etc). However, the one common theme of all my works is that I try to write books with strong themes/messages that will stay with the reader long after they put the work down.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
The story goes that I actually realized that I wanted to be a writer in the 2nd Grade. The main catalyst for my writing was my 2nd Grade Teacher at AP Beutel, Mrs. Scott. When I was in her class years ago, she gave me a homework assignment to write a one-page story. This was the first time I ever wrote anything, and I was inspired with the dream to be a NY Times Bestselling author one day! That experience breathed the love of writing into me and I’ve never stopped since!
What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read?
The biggest influential books I’ve read is Og Mandino’s The Greatest Miracle in The World & The Choice.
What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you become a better writer?
I get invited to a lot of local Comic Cons, so that is definitely one of my better opportunities to network with other authors. However, one of my best influences has been my former English Professor, Dr. Joy. She is a short story writer and her works have appeared in numerous publications. She was one of my major encouragements and inspiration to begin writing professionally.
What’s the best way you've found to market your books?
The best way to market books is to just be steady. There is no gimmick that will automatically make a book go viral and sell millions of copies. Instead, a writer builds their audience one reader at a time. I’ve found that doing a combination of a lot of techniques (reviews, interviews, guest posts, etc.) is the best way to build an audience.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
It depends on the work. For historical works, obviously there is a ton of research done to ensure the work is authentic and factually accurate. My award-winning historical novel, Memories Of My Future, included months of research before I started writing it since I wanted to make sure that all my historical facts were in order. However, most of my novels may take a month or two at max for research, since those all take place in more imaginative worlds.
Any last thoughts for our readers?
Thank you again for the interview, Cody! If anybody has any follow-up questions, please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]
Links/promotional things:
My books are available at:
https://www.amazon.com/Ammar-Habib/e/B00MMQVI9C/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Ammar+Habib?_requestid=950803
I can be found at:
www.ammarahsenhabib.com
https://www.facebook.com/ammarahsenhabib
https://twitter.com/AmmarAHabib1
https://instagram.com/ammar.a.habib/